Folding berth structure



April 27, 1954 J. w. PATTON ETAL FOLDING BERTH STRUCTURE Original Filed July 30, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORi i. 3Q lirmmamua April 27, 1954 .1. w. PATTON ETAL 2,676,334

FOLDING BERTH STRUCTURE Original Filed July 30, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS tr-lm -R m QQ ew QLwfi-u 3;.

Ap 4 w. PATTON ET AL 2,676,334

FOLDING BERTH STRUCTURE Original Filed July 30, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A ORNEY Patented Apr. 27, 1954 when STATES oer-ice 1 HllanflyJ'l'a Berwick, Pa.,- -assignors= to--American Car-stand Foundry Gompany, ork, N.\X.,a.corporation.-of Newilersey. 1 H

Original "applicationfJuly "30,19'48; 'Se'riafNo.

41,1484. Dividedan'd this application June 28, 1950, SerialNon1705854 This invention relates to' b-erth structure and particularly to supportingmeans' foratheber-th pans for-'folding berths suehas areusedin-sleeping car,-shipand other small bedrooms, the-presenteapplication being a 1 division of our applicationSerial No.-41;4-84,IlIed July 30, 1948.

'llhe trend in modern sleeping ear-accommodationsis toward the more'generalprovisionofprivate' bedrooms equipped withrone or moreberths. Many: of these zberths are of the folding type mounted zeithercrosswise or lengthwise o'f =-the caribedroom. Due :to 1 the necessary compact arrangement of the various facilities :inthesesinall rooms, vthe:provision of satisfactory supporting meansufor. theizfreeror swingingv'side of the fold.- ing berth whenzJmhori'zonta-l :position is an important'zfactorwtofbe considered;

.It isvv an obgrectof this 'invention to :providean improvedmeleasable:supportmember for the free side of a folding berthz pan: when the berth is in horizontal position. v r

Another objectrof'.theainvention is to provide improved; latch means iforradet'achably; retaining the releasable :supportstmember berthpan supporting position. V 7

Thesezand other :objects -.of. the. invention-will be. apparent to those.askilled?ins.thetart from: the following description taken the :aoompanw ing drawingsdn :wh'i'ch:

Figure 1 is a transverseisectional rview taken through a sleeping carrroomishowingihe' folding berth in prone positi'on.

Figm'e 2'is ,anrenlargedssectionalview through the pivotalmountingl.forthe:berth':takezpon line 2-2 of Figure 3.

I Figure 3.-is-.a vviewtaken :on line. 3-7-3 -of.;Eigure 1, part -of-;the-false bottom being broken awayzto better disclose ,theipan1structure.

.Figure A is .an enlarged; sectional @view taken on line 4-4 of Figure berth support engaged means. 7 s

Figure 5 is a sectional view;through .the; piv oted side of theberth ,takeneon -linea 55 :of Eigure ,3, certain. parts: thereof Jbeingabrokenraway to better. disclose-other lpartseand the. upper portionzof the room wall's beingprbroken away-sand moved down to more-clearly show the-relationship and arrangement; of .the parts.

3 showing the releasable in the recess slot Eiguret6 is aeside elevationalrview taken. on line 6:6- oi Figure-:3 'and showing the-.folding; berth;

in prone; position. v

VFi-gure .is am enlarged :front viewof ithe-recess sand-slot meansztaken on line 1-1 cf-Figure -3.

the transverse walluZfi I therewith extended? to uiirve but showing the berth in its --vertical st bredposiflan V I v Referring:now mere particularly to the drawings, the-folding -berth 8 isshown as installed in a sleeping car generallytlindicated at is having side-wallsd 2., -l4,'.'.w-inclow-t6, side: aisle 4%, aisle wall-20 provided-:with a-door H- fioor 2.3 and roof- 25.- .Ilhe wall-J g -aislexwalltm, transverse end wall ii -and a similar opposite tr-ainsversewall -(not shown). Th lroom is provided with aclosete216 extending part way along its =aislensidez between .the aisle wall .zfl andicloset wall 28:,tand with-a seat 30 of any suitable 'typev-sueh as that shown. The-inventioh-isshown as embodied-1m upper-acrosswisebrth installed: in: a side aisleaear but:.. this is merely forpurpose's oiillustration since it may also be embodied in lower..berths or lengthwise berths and-iusedsl-inucars. :ot :the central aisle type. The-upper berthsiis pivotally' mounted between the careside wa1l::l-"2: and closet wall 28 .to fold between ahorizontally extending-prone position and a storage positionawhere-it. extends vertically of -theitransverseswallzz d; overhanging canopy member: 12:9 :s' rojects from the uppen urtion of immediately beneath .the room ivceilings 31.; iThe-banopy. (member.- shaped to' 'conformatosthe :contour :ofuthe swing mg' side of LtheIheIsth ';and isrof' zsufiicient thickness, to lieflush..iwithlztheiadjaoent bottom of the berth when:the herthzisximthe.stored:position to form aesubstantially :unbroken room wall surface oTheiab'erthm :eomprisesia pan structure :formed of upstandingomargi'nah end-walls .442- with an upstanding marginal side wall 46 weldeda-torone endathereofi. L'Ihe marginal" side .wallrtfi, which formsthezside of thezb'erthpanzstructure::that.is free: -to1-swing,. Bis Lbent' or aboweo. at its l-ends as shownrat 401111 Figure; 3::to provide clearance .for openingitofzthe duor'zi'zwhenathe :berth is inprone position; .fThis'side 1341 1 315 'similarlytbowed at both-:endszto:permitiinterchangeableinstallation of :the lheir'rthcat:oppbsite :sidesof l 'GhB. room, and for the:sakezofiimiiormity:from the standpoint ofnnanufacture'anclzappearanee. The marginal walls 42, 46 are preferably made of sheet metal formed- :withiaabulbi'orzzbeaded top edge 48 and with inwardly extending short base flanges-50 to the 1 under faces of-whioh is secured by welding a sheet metarbottomcover-plate; At the pivoted side of the berth pan' structure, as' shown in Figure -5, the bottom coverplate 541s continued. or upwardly as indicated at 64 to formthe pposite upstanding marginal side wall :bedro'omwis'i'boun'ded. by the car: side for the pan structure. The pan structure is reinforced by side and end W-shaped angl members 32, 34, respectively, connected together at their adjacent ends by angle pieces 36 secured thereto by rivets 36 and having their upright flanges 44 welded to the inner faces of the upstanding marginal walls. The side angle member 32 at the tree side of the pan structure is bent to conform with the contour of the bowed side marginal wall 46. The w-shaped angle members 32, 64 also have their horizontal flanges 56 welded to the inner face oithe bottom cover plate 54, which is additionally stiffened by laterally extending ribs 51 of inverted V shape similarly welded to the inside face of the bottom cover plate.

Upstanding counterbalance anchor castings 58 having an angle-shaped base attaching portion 60 are secured by rivets 62 at the pivoted side of the berth pan to the inside of opposite corners formed by the upright flanges 44 oi'side and-end angle members 32, 34, marginal end walls 42 and the extended portion 64 of the bottom cover plate 54. The beaded edge 48 or the marginal end walls 42 is cut away at this region to permit proper application of the anchor castings 58, the attaching base portions 65 being formed to iit up against the uprightv flanges .44 of side and end angle members 32, 34 with their outer faceslying flush therewith. A false. bottom plate 66 is removably attached by screws 68 to. and supported on the horizontal legs I of the side and end angle members 32, 34. The part 'II or the extended portion 64 of bottom cover plate 54 ex: tending beyond the top edge 46 of marginal end walls 42 is stifiened by a reinforcing plate 12 secured to its inner face by rivets 14 for a purpose later to be described.

The pivot pin mounting for the foldingberth pan structure comprises a relatively heavy angle member T6 having its horizontal leg I8, as viewed in Figure 2, secured by rivets 80 to the horizontal leg I0 of opposite end angle members 34 adjacent the inner or pivoted side of the berth pan. The vertical leg 82 of these angle members 16 is secured by rivets 84 to the upright vertical flange 44 of end angle members 34 and to the marginal end walls 42. The pivot structure is reinforced by a spacer plate 86 interposed between the ver-v tical leg 82 of member 16 and marginal. end wall 42, each of which is formed with aligned openings, indicated at 88, for the reception of a pivot pin 90. The pivot pin is held in place byca retainer or anchor plate 92 welded to the inner end of the pin and secured to the pivot structure by bolts 94.

The pivot pins 90 are journalled in bearing members 96 secured by bolts 98 in the proper cation on the opposite walls I2, 28 of the .room. The bearing members are. formed .with acentral cylindrical portion I00 lined with a bushing I02 through which the pins 90 extend. The berth pan structure is maintained in spaced relationto bearing members 96 at opposite sides of the room. by washers I04, I06 interposed between the bear-v ing members 96. and. the upstanding marginal end walls 42..

When theberth is in the horizontal prone position, its free side is supported at the outer ,end by a ledge member I08 secured by screws IIOto the car side wall I2, and at its inner end by a supporting link H2. The supporting link H2 is pivoted at one end, as indicated at H4 in Figure 6, to a bracket II6 secured by rivets II8 to the horizontal leg I0 of bowed side angle member 32.

hinge I58 between the i The link I I2 is bent, as shown in Figure 3, to corn form generally to the contour of the bowed end portion of the swingable side of the berth pan structure, with its opposite or free end adapted to be inserted through a slot I26 formed in the front cover plate I2I 01; a recess casting I22 extending through an opening formed in closet wall 28 and secured thereto by screws :24. As shown in Figure 4, the free end of link II2 is provided at one side with a notch i226 engageable with the upstanding lip I28 forming the bottom of slot I20 in the cover plate ii! of recess casting I22 to releasably support the swingable side of the berth when it is in prone position. The free end of link H2 is also formed at its opposite side with a second notch I36 with which a latch member I52 pivoted at I34 to the cover plate I2I above slot I20 is adapted to be engaged for retaining the link in berth supporting position. The latch member I32 is provided with finger actuated handle portions I36 and a stop I38 formed on recess casting I22 for limiting pivotal movement of the latch beyond notch engaging position.

The berth pan structure is equipped with counterbalance devices, one at each end of the pivoted side of the berth, and generally indicated at I40. The counterbalance devices each comprise a tubular part I42 pivoted at I44 to the anchor castings; 58 and a cylindrical part I46 is pivoted at I40 to bracketi50 secured by screws I52 to the transverse room wall 24. These parts are ar ranged in telescoping relation with a coil spring I54 interposed between them, the spring being installed under suficient initial compression to exert a force capable of counterbalancing the weight of the berth structure and permit its easy and controlled operation. The berth structure is also provided at its pivoted side with a bedding retainer I56 pivotally connected by means of a piano type spring hinge I58 to the upper edge portions of bottom cover plate extension H and reinforcing plate I2. The upper edge portion of reinforcing plate I2 is cut away or recessed, to p rmit sandwiching of the bottom leaf I59 of plate 12 and cover plate extension II, where it .is secured in place by rivets I4. The bedding retainer I56 is held in operative position by rollers I60 carried thereby and riding on wear strips I62 secured by screws I64 to transverse wall 24.

The berth structure may be retained in its prone and stored positions by any suitable or desired type of latch means, but such means have not been shown or described since they form no part of the present invention.

The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to those skilled in the art and exclusive use of all modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims is contemplated.

- -What is claimed is:

1. In a room having spaced walls, a berth, pivot means supporting the ends of said berth on said walls for movement of the berth between a vertical storage position and a horizontal prone position, recess means extending through an opening in one'ofsaid walls having a front cover plate formed with a slot and secured thereto, means for releasably supporting the side of the berth remote from the pivot means when the berth is in prone position including a link pivotally connected at one end with the side of the berth and formed at its opposite end with a notch, said notchedend of the the recessmeans .th oughsaid slot for. enga elink being insertable into ment therewith to detachably retain the link in berth supporting position, and means for positively preventing disengagement of said notched end of the link from the recess means.

2. In a room having spaced walls, a berth, pivot means supporting the ends of said berth on said walls for movement of the berth between a vertical storage position and a horizontal prone position, recess means extending through an opening in one of said walls having a front cover plate formed with a slot and secured thereto, and means for releasably supporting the side of the berth remote from the pivot means when the berth is in the prone position including a link pivotally connected at one end to the side of the berth and formed at its other end with oppositely arranged notches, said notched end of the link being insertable through said slot into the recess means for engagement of one of the notches therewith to detachably retain the link in berth supporting position, and a latch member pivotally mounted on said front cover plate of the recess means engageable with the other of said notches to positively prevent disengagement of said notched end of the link from the recess means.

3. In a room having spaced walls, a berth pivotally supported by said walls for swinging movement about one side between a vertical stored position and a horizontal prone position, slot forming means carried by one of said walls, means for releasably supporting the opposite side of the berth when the berth is in prone position including a link pivotally connected at one end to the berth side and formed at its opposite end with a pair of notches one of which is adapted to detachably engage said slot forming means, a latch member pivotally carried by the slot forming means engageable with the other or said notches for preventing disengagement of the notch engaged in the slot means, and a stop for limiting movement of the latch member beyond latching position.

4. In a room having spaced side walls and an end wall, a berth pivotally supported by the side walls to swing about one side between a stored position extending vertically of the end wall and a horizontal prone position, recess means extending through an opening in one of said side Walls having a front cover plate formed with a slot and secured thereto, means for releasably supporting the opposite side of the berth when the berth is in the prone position including a link pivotally connected at one end to the berth side and provided at its opposite end with a notch adapted to detachably engage said slot formed in the recess means, and resilient counterbalance means connected adjacent the pivotal axis of the berth and to the end wall of the room constantly urging the berth towards vertically extended stored position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 787,797 Schliepmann Apr. 18, 1905 1,262,600 Purcell Apr. 9, 1918 1,288,471 Ballenberg Dec. 24, 1918 2,358,546 Tully et al Sept. 19, 1944 2,528,307 Heaney Oct. 31, 1950 2,546,134 Watter Mar. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 675,612 France Nov. 8, 1929 

